On January 7th, 2025 fires in Los Angeles began to erupt leading to at least 11 deaths and massive amounts of destruction and loss. Approximately 180,000 people have been displaced. Thousands of properties have been destroyed. The Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire are said to be some of the most catastrophic fires in California's history.
When thinking about the impact of these fires on the Los Angeles community, it can help to look back at past disasters that have been researched. There has been research on the mental health findings after a fire disaster. An original research article, "Psychological Symptoms Among Evacuees From the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfires: A Population-Based Survey One Year Later," by Bellevue et al 2021, investigated the psychological impact of a massive fire in Alberta, Canada. This fire disaster led to displacement of 88,000 people and destruction of 2,400 homes. They surveyed evacuees about one year after the fire and shared some important findings:
Insomnia was the most commonly reported symptom ~29%
Post-traumatic stress, major depressive, and generalized anxiety disorders were found in ~15%
Substance use disorder were found in ~8%
Having a prior mental health condition increased the likelihood of symptoms after the disaster
Decreases in work, social life, and physical health were associated with higher chance of symptomsÂ
While the actual psychological impact of the Los Angeles Fires is yet to be known, looking back at this study can help inform us that there will be a strong need for mental health supports for insomnia, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use. It also seems that maintaining work, social support, and maintaining good physical health may be protective factors for mental wellness after a community experiences devastation from a fire disaster.
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